We Believe in Christ by Faith - It’s a Free-Will Choice

 “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “One day some of the Pharisees and those of the Jewish sect known as the Sadducees approached Jesus, insisting that He prove to them that He was the Messiah. “Show us a supernatural sign from heaven,” they demanded. A wicked and wayward generation always asks for signs, but the only sign I provide for you will be the sign of Jonah the prophet.” Then He turned away and left them.”  Of the three major sects of Judaism of that day - Pharisees, Essenes and Sadducees - the Sadducees were a small but influential group that philosophically denied the supernatural and gravitated instead toward political control of the people.  Jesus reminds these religious people from Scripture itself, of the “sign of Jonah” which was supernatural and pointed towards Himself!  Jonah was thrown into the sea and this points to Christ’s death.  Being swallowed by the fish for three days points to Christ’s burial.  Being expelled from the fish speaks of Christ’s Resurrection and triumph over death, which is the greatest “sign” God could ever give.  The Resurrected Jesus is the eternal sign that our sins are forgiven.  We can never stop thanking our supernatural God for Jesus forgiving every human being’s sin through the Cross.  It’s a free will choice to believe Him as God never forces any to believe Him - it is entirely by faith.  Amen!

Proclaim the Victory of the Word

 “The plowers plowed upon my back: They made long their furrows. The LORD is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭129‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.        “They have hurt us more than can be expressed, ripping us to shreds, cutting deeply into our souls. But no matter what, the Lord is good to us. He is a righteous God who stood to defend us, breaking the chains of the evil ones that bound us.”  This was the experience of the Jews in Babylonian captivity where they endured great suffering.  But the writer of this psalm in Babylonian exile made this messianic prophecy telling us of how the Roman soldiers hurt and ripped Jesus’s back as a plower plows his field, making long furrows.  All this Jesus endured to bring mankind back to become His family with the same Father.  The sin of Adam brought humanity to follow the father of lies, that is the devil.  But Jesus rescued us so that as many as received Him became the children of God.  God’s plan will always prevail no matter whatever deception comes into the world.  That is why it is vital that God’s family dwells and abides in the Word to discern the wiles of the devil and proclaim the truth of the victory of the Cross instead.  Amen!

Jesus Came for the Whole World

 “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “He encountered there a Canaanite woman who shouted out to Him, “Lord, Son of David, show mercy to me! My daughter is horribly afflicted by a demon that torments her.” But Jesus never answered her. So His disciples said to Him, “Why do you ignore this woman who is crying out to us?”  Canaan is modern day Lebanon and here refers to non-Jewish people.  Jesus was first sent for the chosen people, and then after His Resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church, to the non-Jewish people.  This Canaanite woman recognised that Jesus is the Messiah and wanted her daughter delivered of demonic torment.  Jesus set the woman’s daughter free but first told her that He had come for the chosen people.  The goodness of God is such that Jesus not only delivered the daughter but brought the woman to the true worship of God.  The disciples wanted Jesus only for the Jews.  But here is the way God loved the world—He gave His Only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life.  The goodness of God endures forever.  Amen!

The Joy of Obedience to God

 “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; That walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭128‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.      “How joyous are those who love the Lord and bow low before God, ready to obey Him! Your reward will be prosperity, happiness, and well-being.”  David too had experienced the joy of obedience when he sang “I have proclaimed good news of righteousness and the joy that comes from obedience to You in the great assembly; Behold, I will not restrain my lips from proclaiming Your righteousness, As You know, O LORD.”  Jesus knew the blessings of obedience when He went to the Cross. It was for the joy that was set before Him that He endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Since He conquered death through the Cross, the door has been opened for all mankind to enter the Kingdom of God for all eternity.  This is the love that caused Jesus to endure the Cross.  All He asks is for us to believe in what He did.  As many as receive Him, to them He gives the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name.  Let’s believe in the death destroying power of the Cross.  Amen!

By Faith, Christ’s Power Works Through Us

 “and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “So they brought Him all their sick, begging Him to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And everyone who touched it was instantly healed!”  Jesus had calmed the storm just before this; the disciples confessed that He is the Son of God.  As He landed on the shore and word had gone around that He was there, multitudes crowded to Him.  The power of God exuded from Jesus so incredibly that merely touching His prayer shawl or cloak was bringing instant healing.  This same power is available to the Church today, for Christ, the Healer, lives in every believer just as He did with Peter and Paul when their handkerchiefs, pieces of cloth and even their shadows healed and delivered people.  Let every believer walk in the authority of Christ Himself.  Amen!

Children Are A Blessing

 “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; So are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon wrote this psalm. “Children born to a young couple will one day rise to protect and provide for their parents. Happy will be the couple who has many of them! A household full of children will not bring shame on your name but victory when you face your enemies, for your offspring will have influence and honor to prevail on your behalf!”  Children are as arrows in the hands of a warrior, it says in Hebrew, which means that our children will be our future protection and provision - so the more the merrier!  In that context, they are a blessing to parents in their old age.  That’s what God said when He created Adam and Eve.  God gave them His blessing and said: “Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.”  The blessings of God have sustained those who acknowledge God and are His chosen people.  Therefore, each generation must tell their children about the good things the Lord has done through the finished work of the Cross of Christ and the new covenant He has made with us, and let’s all be a thankful people.  Amen!

Kingdom of God Mysteries

 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew wrote Jesus’s words, “He explained, “You’ve been given the intimate experience of insight into the hidden mysteries of the realm of heaven’s kingdom, but they have not.”  The mysteries of the Kingdom of God are spiritual insights into the nature and ways of God.  Jesus Christ can only be understood by the spirit and not by the intellect of man.  Jesus taught His disciples through parables to move them beyond intellectual abilities and engage the spirit.  If the listener had a hunger to learn with an open, teachable heart, then Jesus’s words brought life and understanding.  Let’s be those who push aside our opinions and traditions to glean the deepest meaning of all that Jesus did or taught.  Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit.  God’s great mystery is Christ and only the Holy Spirit gives us access to all the riches of God as we experience the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Sowing to Reap a Harvest

 “Turn again our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the south. They that sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭126‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬

Traditionally this psalm is attributed to Ezra.  “Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again. Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!”  As God had spoken through earlier prophets, the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity and Jerusalem was rebuilt as was the temple.  Sowing with tears their seed with what little they have is a picture of sacrificial giving for the joy of the harvest to come.  We are living in dark times but God has chosen us to sow the seed of the Word of God, for the harvest of souls that is happening even now around the world.  What can we give to the Giver of all good things, except for bringing souls to salvation.  The Lord has promised that He will return and He is not late!  But rather, His “delay” simply reveals His loving patience toward us, because He does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance.  So our responsibility is to win souls for Christ with a fervour and to arise, shine; for our light has come! The glory of the Lord is risen upon us.  Amen!

Mercy & Compassion through Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

 “But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “But I say to you, there is One here Who is even greater than the temple. If only you could learn the meaning of the words ‘I want compassion more than a sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t be condemning My innocent disciples. For the Son of Man exercises His Lordship over the Sabbath.”  Jesus stunned His hearers when He said He’s greater than the temple; that God wants mercy not sacrifices; and that He the Messiah is the Lord of the Sabbath.  Many times the Church, which is the Body of Christ, makes their denomination, their property, their events and management of their affairs, etc. greater than the Lord Jesus Christ, quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit.  Let’s repent of this.  The prophet had said that Yahweh desires mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  Compassion and mercy comes in our heart when we release the love of God, knowing the horrors of the wrath of God in judgment.  In Jesus’s own words, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”  That’s why with mercy we preach the Gospel for it is the power of God to salvation.  Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and as Creator and Son of Man, has the authority to define, interpret, and govern the day of rest, prioritizing mercy and human need over rigid legalistic restrictions. Let’s believe in Who Jesus Christ is. Let’s rejoice that our names are in the Book of Life.  Amen!

The New Covenant Gift of Righteousness

 “For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Do good, O LORD, Unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭125‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬. 

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.    “The wicked will not always rule over the godly, provoking them to do what is evil. God, let your goodness be given away to your good people, to all your righteous ones!”  In the new covenant, the righteous are those whose sins have been forgiven by the Blood sacrifice of Jesus.  For God made Jesus His Son, Who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Indeed, without the shedding of Christ’s Blood there is no forgiveness of sins and therefore no righteousness.  We need the protection from evil and it comes only through the Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  For if by the one man’s (Adam’s) offence death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  Amen!